Arc lamp



Aug. Vl1, 1931. J. H.- wAGENHoRsT 1,817,955

ARC LAMP Filedvllarch 4, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet l M46 JE Alm ll, 1931- J. H. wAGENHoRs-r ARC LAMP Filed March 4, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. ll, 1931. J. H. wAGENHoRs-r ARC LAMP Filad llarch 4, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jl O y J5 5/ J/ .IJ w

Patented Aug. 11,1931

.uns n. waemrnoasr. or Jackson. momen;

Anc Lm yWinsum yanni mi, me. semi 110.92301.

invention relates to improvements in lamps 'and has to do, more particularly,

wthparc. lamps of the type having multiple arcs, which are burned successively. v

"15" The chief objectof myinvention is to prorvide an arc lamp which will burn for a long time, without requiring the replacement or `tieularly,useful in connection withmotion i0 ictiire studios where arc lamps are frequenty used as :Hood lights Vfor illuminating a set which isto be photographed. Itis important, in suchuse, that'the hotographing of theset.' should not have to renewed, as this vsuspension of wo the set and the high salaried actorsidle, and

y is, consequently, very expensive. It is m object to provide a lamp suitable 'for wor of this character, which can burn for a much llonger time than lamps heretofore used, with- -outvrequiring attention from the operator or the replacementor renewal of the carbons.

A further object of my invention is to provide an arc lamp, of the t yhaving multiple arcs which burn successively, which is pro-y vided with very simple mechanism for automatically shiftin successively from one arc to the other. A urther object of my inventien is to provide a lamp having four arcs, two of which burn simultaneously while the other pair is automatically and successively substituted for the first pair. A further object of ,my invention is to provide simple tailed description to follow. In one instance,

I accom lish the objects of my invention by the devices and means set forth in the following specification. My invention is clearlvldefinedand pointed out in the appended claims. A structure constituting a preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated in lamp. yrenewal of the carbons. Such a lamp is pary interrupted in` erderto permit the carbons in the lam s to be y keeps mechanism for feeding a pair of upper electhe accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which .Fig 1 is a perspective viewof a lamp einkbodying my invention 'mounted upon a suitable supporting stand, the diusingy curtain or screen being drawn'across the yfront ofthe Fig. 2 is a view of the lamp infront elevation, part of lone cover plate l being broken awa. y i

Fig. is a horizontal, sectional view, taken on the line 3 3 ofFig. 2. f 'f Fig. 4 is a horizontal, sectional'view, taken on the line 4-4 of Fig..2.

` Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view ofthe lamp top elevation, parts of the cabinet being broken awa in lorderto's'how the carbon feedin ymec anism more clearly.

ig. V6 is avertical, sectional viewv through the lam taken on the line 6,-6 of Fig/2.

Fig. is a detail, sectional view online 7-7ofFig.2. Y n f Y Fig. 8 isa detail, sectional View through a guideblock for the upper electrodes, showing the feeding clutch in the position which it assurnes when the circuit `through thefeeding solenoid is broken, and l Fi .-9 is a similar detail, sectional viewy showing the feedin clutch 'in the position which 1t assumes w the feeding solenoid is closed. Inthe drawings, the same reference nuthe several views.

In general, accomplish the objects-of my' invention by providing apair of lower, stationary electrodes or carbons and a pair of en the circuit through y ymerals refer to the samey part throughout i upper electrodes ork carbons clamped in a common electrode' holder, so that the upper electrodes partake of simultaneous and like feeding kmovements toward the lower electrodes and away from them, together, with a feeding mechanism by which the pair of upv per electrodes is caused to move with respect to the lower electrodes,'so as to draw an arcy between an upper and a lower electrode of the set. I propose to provide a feeding clutch acting on one of the pair of upper electrodes and a clutch-operating rod connected to the feeding clutch so as to be raised one tor each pair ot upper electrodes.

Referring to the numbered parts oi' 'he dra-wings, in which I have illustrated a lamp constituting one embodiment of my inv.VV n tion, I have shown, in Eig. 1, a stand 10 having a xed standard 11 upon which the movable standard 12 is vertically adjustable. The lamp is enclosed within a cabinet 13, and mounted upon the upper end et stancard 12. In Fig. 1, I have shown the curtain or screen 14 drawn across the front ot the lamp in order to diii'use the light coming` from the arcs.

rllhe operating parts of the lamp are all supported by the cabinet. The lower or stationary carbone or electrodes 22, are supported by a transverse angle bar 15, up-iorted by the cabinet and extending across it from one side to tl e other. Mounted in this transverse brace bar 15, are four binding posts 19, the heads of which are insulated from the bar 15 by means ot insulating washers 1.7 and 18. The two screws 1G, shown at the lett of Eig. 3, support the clamping members for one pair of lower electrodes, while the two screws i6, at the right support clamping members for the other pair of lower electrodes. Electrode clamping members 19 are mounted upon the binding posts 16, and clamped against ihe insulating` washers 18, by means of nuts 20. Each of these clamping members is provided with a pair of curved recesses or notches 21, adapted to receive a pair o't the lower electrodes 22. Outer clamping mer bers 23 are mounted on the posts 16, and provided with recesses 24, fitting around the lower electrodes 22, and are clamped against the electrodes by means of the thumb nuts screwed up upon the ends of the binding posts 16. The two inner posts 16, are connected electrically by the wire 25. It. will thus be seen that the four lower electrodes are arranged in two pairs, all mounted upon the transverse angle bar 15 extending from one side of the cabinet to the other.

A similar tr sverse brace bar 27. of angie formation, extends from one side oi the cabinet to the other at about the n'iiddle, and is bolted to tl e side walls ot the cabinet. bar 2T constitutes a support for the clectro-.e or carbon guides 23. which are made ot' insul lating material and are bolted Yto the hori- Zontal flange of the brace bar 27. There are two of these carbon guides, one for the left hand pair ci upper electrodes, and the other ier the right hand pair. Each ot these carbon guides 23, has two holes 29 therethrough, ot slightly greater diameter than the carbons which pi through and are guided in these holes. Each carbon guide also has a gie hole adapted to receive the lower end oit the clutch-operating rod 32, and ot such diameter that this rod will move it freely. The carbons 31, of each pair of upper electrodes, are clamped between the pair of -l mping members 33, 36, which are provided `with notches or recesses 3&1, of suitable size to receive the upper ends of the carbons, and with intermediate notches 35, through which the ca 'bon operating rod `32 mayislide order to Jreed the carbons. These clamp,- ing members 33, 3G, are clamped against the electrodes or carbons 3l, by means of the. bolts 3? and thumb nuts 38. The. operating rod for each pair of upper electrodes, carries a feeding clutch 39, engaging one oi" the electrodes of the pair. has an opening therein receiving the carbon i provided with a flaring mouth 40, and wit i an edge l11, which is adapted to grip the carbon when the operating rod is drawn upwardly, so as to draw the upper electrodes away 'from the lower electrodes. This electrode feeding clutch 39 has an opening 42, through which the operating rod 32 extend and a screw 43, carried by the rod 32. extends through an opening tat, in the clutch. that oening` having sutiicient clearance to permit the clutch to tilt slightly with reference to the clutch-operating rod. The feedposition of this clutclris shown in F ig. 3, in which the operating rod has descended until the clutcn engages the carbon guide 2S and assumes a position parallel thereto, permitting the carbon 31 to slide freely through the holes in the clutch and carbon guide. lfhen the operating rod 32 is lifted, however, the weight of the carbon clutch causes it to tilt slightly gripping the carbon 31. so as to draw both upper carbons oit the pair upwardly away from the lower carbons.

rIhe clutch operating rods 32 are formed by the vertical legs of a yole -l5, the horizontal legs ot which are einln'accd and clamped within a saddle d6. The voire is made in two parts anl the ends oi' the horizontal legs are spaced :from each other within saddle i6, and insulated 'from each other and trom the saddle by a sheet ot insulation 46 interposed between said horizontal leg portions and the saddle. rIhe saddle Li6 pivoted, at il?, to

the inner end ot a feeding lever i-S, which fulcrmned upon a pin 52 carried by the cabt. rlie lever 13 is bentV back upon itself, at i9, at a point adjacent to pin 52, and then bent rearwardly and then laterally forming This clutch solenoid winding is connected by a wire 63, to`

the arm 51. extending to a point near the "sidewall of 'the cabinet. This bending back of' the lever, at 49, provides an extended bearing for the lever at two spaced points upon the pivot pin 52, as shown in Fig. 5.

The outer end of the arm 51 of the lever is curved, at 53, forwardly around a dash pot 58, and theupper ends of the legs ofa yoke 54, are fastened to the outer end of this arm at the portion which curves around the dashpot, as shown in Figs. 5 and 7. The lower end of this yoke 54 1s bent upwardly within ,the dash pot, as shown in Fig. 7, andv is con-` nected'to the plunger 56, having the head 57 working within the dash pot. The lower end of the stem 56 is connected by a spring 59, to the solenoid core 60, which works within the feeding solenoid 61.

,i One of the electrical terminals ofthe lamp isc'onnected, by a wire 62, with the lower end of the solenoid 61, while the upper end of the the' combined electrode holder and guide,

formed by the clamping members 33' and 36,

.and clamping the upper ends of the adjacent pair of upper electrodes. The correspending electrode holder and guide for the other pair of upper electrodes is connected,

. bya. wire 64, with the upper end of the rheostator resistance coil 65, the lower end of which is connected by a wirey 66, with the opposite terminal of the lamp. v

When the circuit is closed, the current flows through the wire 62, solenoid 61, wire 63a`nd the electrode holder for the adjacent pair ofupper electrodes to said electrodes and, through one of said electrodes, to that one 'of the corresponding pair ofv lower electrodes which is in contact with it, (see Fig. 2) and thence to the lower electrodev clamps formed by the members 19 and 23.

From these clamps, the Vcurrent flows through the wire 26 to the corresponding clamps for the lower electrodesof the opposite set and,'thence, to that upper electrode v of the set, which is in contact with one of thelower electrodes, and through the comhined electrode holder yand guide for the upser ends of that pair of upper electrodes, an wire 64, to the rheostat 65, and then out through the wire 66, to the opposite side of the circuit in which the lamp is connected.

When the parts are in the positions shown in Fig. '2and the circuit is closed, the sole,- noid 61 is energized and draws downwardly the solenoid core 60. This pulls downwardly the outer arm51, of the feeding lever, and y raises the inner arm ofthe lever48, and the saddle 46 connected therewith. This raises both clutch-operating rods 32, and tilts the clutches 39, so that they gri the carbons with which they are associate and raise all the upper carbons thus drawing they 'arcs between the two pairs of electrodes which are shown incontact, in Fig., 2. As the the roach the stationbro en. Immediately, the upper electrodes descend untilthose upper electrodes, which were not burning during the preceding operation, contact with the corresponding lower electrodes, closing the circuit once more,fand

causing the solenoid to be energized, lifting the upper electrodes away from the lower electrodes, and thus drawing the larc between those electrodes which were not in use during the preceding period; This is repeatedautomatlcally "from time to time and the arc shifts automatically fromone' set ofy electrodes tothe other.' The yresult is that they inallyy a point isv were first drawn and the circuit" isy carbon life of this 'lampis practically dou- ,y

bled, as the'- lamp can be used twice asl long wlthout replacing or renewing the carbons, as has been possible withthe lamps heretofore known and used in which there are sim-v ply a pair of carbons, or two pairs of carbons lforming arcs which burn simultaneously. This is a great advantage in connection with the use of these lamps in kmotion picture studios, as it permits the lamp to urn almost twice asv long and thusavoids the necessity of suspending the photographing of a set, in order to permit the operators ytoftrim the lamps and replace the carbons.`

The yoke 45, which lcarries the clutch-operating rods 32,r is suspended from one arm of the lever 48, and, consequently, all thermo'vable electrodes and their operating parts are `suspended from that arm of the lever. The

opposite arm of the lever has a solenoid core 60 suspended therefrom and,therefore,-this core tends to partiallycounterbalance the weight of the carbons and the connecting parts. This makes a very sensitive construction and one which responds quickly to variations in the current strength. The interposition of spring 59 between the solenoid core 60 and the yoke 54, fastened to the outer arm 51 of the feeding lever, tends to prevent the vibration of the lever and connecting parts due to minute fluctuations in the current passing through the solenoid, and the connection of the dash pot 58, and plunger 57 at this point also assists in this same purpose. A combined electrode holder and guide, comprising the clamping members 34 and 36, is accurately formed and securely clamped upon the upper ends of the movable electrodes of each pair. This combined eleclll..

lll)

trode holder' and guide, in combination with -he clutch-operating rod 32 and the clutch 39 connected to that rod and engaging one of the electrodes, serves to maintain the movable electrodes in alinement with the stationary electrodes 22 and prevents any twistingl or turning ot the movable electrodes with reference to the holes Q9 in the insulating guide member Q8 through which the)7 extend. rl"his com iination of elements, therefore. prevents twisting ot the electrodes and keeps them in alinement with the lower stationary electrodes without depending upon the accurate formation of the holes 29 or upon a close lit between the sides of those holes and -the electrodes. rlhis is a distinct advantage as it eliminates a source of friction acting upon the movable electrodes and makes the wnole mechanism more sensitive to variation .in current and, at the same time, insures that the electrodes shall always be in alinement with each other.

l have not described in this aipiplication the construction ot the cabinet, within which the lamp is housed, as that cabinet forms the subject matter of another zpplication, filed by me of even date herewith, in which the construction ot the cabinet is disclosed and claimed.

l ani aware that the particular construction ot arc lamp disclosed by me in this application may be changed considerably without departing from the spirit of my invention, and, therefore, I claim my invention broadly, as indicated by the appended claims.

lVhat I claim is:

l. ln an arc lamp, the combination ot' two pairs ol" stationary electrodes, two pairs of movable electrodes, two electrode holders, each holder being fastened to the movable electrodes ot one pair, two clutches, one coactingy with one electrode ot each pair ot' movable electrodes, a yoke having vertical legs to which said clutches are respectively connected, a pivo-ted lever from one arm of which said yoke is suspended, and means for rocking' said lever to -feed said movable electrodes with respect to the stationary electrodes.

2. ln an arc lamp, the combination ot two pairs ot stationary electrodes two pairs ot movable electrodes, two electrode holders, each holder being fastened to one pair ot movable electrodes, a pair of clutches co-actinnwith one electrode ot each of said pair.' ot movable electrodes, a yoke havin-f3Y vertical legs to which said clutches are respectively connected, a pivoted lever to which said yoke is pivoted so that one pair of movable electrodes balances the other, and means for rocking said lever on its pivot to feed the movable electrodes with respect to the stationary electrodes.

3. In an arc lamp, the combination ot two pairs or stationary electrodes, two pairs of movable electrodes, electrode holders connected to the movable electro/,les oit each pair, a clutch :tor each pa'r oi electrodes said clutches co-oieratiimr with one electrode of l, v1 A. W me haiiug veit ed pivoted lever trom one a' which sa (i Toke i leed the movlln an arc lampq the combination ot two pairs ot stationary electroi'lcs, two pairsl ot movable electrodes, two electrode holders l ch electrode holder being tastened to the Le el: said pairs ot nio vable cl itclies, one co-oppair ot' movj, vertical legs to respectively conone arm ot which a solenoid connected .cli'odes` and a solenoid rom the othe arm ot auip, the combination of a connected in an electric one ot said electo the other` a hitch-opal lt one arni ot which said speneed, a liked dash pot, tie other arm ot said lever bei; curved around said dash pot, a yoke suf-mended 'trom the curved arm ot s 'd lever, a plunger connected to said voke and .vorl-:irgv in said dash pot, a solenoid armature, spring connecting said yoke and said armature, and a solenoid connected in the electric circ it with said electrodes and co-operating with said arma.- ture.

6. ln an arc lamp, the combii ation ot a pair ot electrodes connected in an electric circuit, a clutch tor feeding one of said electrodes with respect to the other, a clutchoperating rod, a pivoted lever from one arm of which said rod suspended, a liked dash pot, a yoke suspended from the other arm of said lever, a plunger connected to said yoke and working;` in said cash pot, a solenoid connected in circuit with said electrodes, a solenoid armature, and a spring;r connecting,r said yoke and said armature.

7. ln an arc lam i, the combinacion ot' :i pair oi? electrodes, :otaectcd in an electric circuit, al clutch for feeding' one ot said electrodes with respect to the other, a clutchoperating' rod, a pivoted lever from one arm ot weich said rod suspended, a lined dash pot, yoke suspended "from the other arm o't' said lever,` a plunger co incctefl to said yoke and working in said dash pot, a solenoid connected in circuit with said electrode-s, and a solenoid armature sus;r ended from s: l yoke.

8. In an amp, the combinati-.f

o. ln an a pair ot elec' circuit, a clut trodes with reci lil) pair of movable electrodes, a single electrode holder fastened to both of said movable electrodes, a single feeding clutch engaging one of said movable electrodes,a clutch-operating rod` connected to said clutch, and electro-magnetic means in circuit with said electrodes and controlling the movements of said rod.

9. In an are lamp, the combination of a pair of movable electrodes, a single combined electrode holderand guide fastened tobothy of said movable electrodes, a single clutch engaging one of said movable Yelectrodes, a clutch-operating rod connected to said'clutch and sliding 1n said guide, and electro-magnetic means in circuit with said electrodes for controlling the movements of said rod. v

10. In an arc lamp,gthe combination of a pair of movable electrodes .sa guide block of h which said elecinsulating material throng trodes slide, a single combined electrode holder and ide fastened to both of said movable electr es a feeding clutch located above said guide blocli and engaging one of said movable electrodes, a clutch-operating rod sliding through said holder and guide and connected to saldr clutch, and electro-magnetic means in circuit with said electrodes for controlling the movements of said rod.r v

11. In an arc lamp, the combination of two pairs of movable electrodes, two electrode holders, each of said holders being fastened to one airof movable electrodes, a clutch cooperating with one electrode of each of said pairs of movable electrodes, a clutch-operating rod connected to each clutch, and means for actuating said clutch-operating rods.

- JAMES H. WAGENHORST. 

